Chapter 1: The Beginning of Two Families

The novel opens by introducing two close-knit families who have shared years of friendship. Their bond is deep, their children—Burak and Maryam—attend the same school, and their lives seem peaceful and content. Burak, the hero, is shown as distant and cold toward Maryam, despite her kindness and willingness to befriend him. He is often irritated by her presence, finding her quiet kindness unnerving. Maryam, on the other hand, is compassionate and thoughtful, never understanding why Burak dislikes her but quietly accepting it. The idyllic setup of the two families gives readers a sense of warmth and stability, only to be later shattered by the events that follow. Small, seemingly inconsequential interactions between the characters hint at underlying tensions that will unravel as the story progresses.